Back to basics

New Triple Crown World Series rule brings back wooden sluggers

Steamboat Springs  The cracking of wooden bats has replaced the hollow popping sound of aluminum bats at home plate this weekend.

"The ball doesn't carry as far with the wood bats," said Erik Schuessler, a pitcher for the Cherry Creek Bruins, one of the teams in the local Triple Crown World Series.

"You can just bust (the pitches) in and try to make them hit with the handle and make them bust their bats."

Schuessler's team, which is in the age 16 division, is competing in the Triple Crown World Series tournament in Steamboat, Oak Creek, Hayden and Craig this weekend, along with 111 other visiting teams.

This year, Triple Crown has enforced a rule that prohibits youth baseball players from using aluminum bats in Triple Crown championship games.